Assignment:
Provide a 5-page analysis of the experiences of a minority individual or group, past or present,
who has had a significant impact on U.S. government at the national or state level or who has been
affected by government (select from the attached book list or see me for approval of additional
titles; examples include Malcolm X, Cesar Chavez, Ishi). See your class schedule for the exact dues
date for the prospectus (description of your plans for the paper, approximately one page in
length), as well as the exact due date for the papers themselves. Late papers will receive a
significantly reduced grade. This is not a book report! You are enrolled in a political science
course; this paper is designed to stimulate cognitive thinking about our government’s relationship
with minorities, both in the present and the past. The thesis of your paper should focus on either
how government affected this minority, or how this minority affected government. Please see me with
questions!
Format:
Please be sure your paper has a title page. All papers should be typed, use 12-point font, double-spaced, with
one-inch margins and either foot or end notes (work cited). I cannot stress the importance of citing your
sources! Please use direct quotations effectively, do not fill an entire page with a direct quote
from the book. Be sure to avoid the use of personal pronouns (I, we, us, they, me, you) and slang.
Your paper should include a clearly stated thesis, a brief summary of the book (no more than two
paragraphs!), and a minimum of three specific examples from the book(s) that support your thesis.
Direct quotes alone do not support a thesis. You will need to expand and explain how this “event”
or “action” supports your thesis. Remember, this is not a book report, DO NOT merely describe the
event. I am looking for your analysis of how this event supports your thesis. Your summary may
include personal comments on the book, and thoughts on what you learned from the assignment. You
will also need to submit and get approval for the original approved prospectus via Canvas
